Sex-specific association of hair cortisol concentration with stress-related psychological factors in healthy young adults

Abstract

Highlights Associations between hair cortisol level and psychological factors have been inconclusive. In healthy young adults, the hair cortisol concentration was not significantly different between sexes. The association between emotion dysregulation and hair cortisol was only found in women, but not in men. The role of sex should be considered in utilizing hair cortisol as a biomarker for psychological stress response.

Keywords

• Sex
• Hair cortisol concentration
• Stress
• Emotion regulation